In Syria’s Aleppo, the spirit of Christmas has prevailed over terrorism, as hundreds of Syrians took to the streets to celebrate the special holiday in peace for the third-year in a row. By Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) Right around this time two years ago, the ancient Syrian city of Aleppo was freed from Al-Qaeda terrorists by the Syrian Army and its allies. Since 2012, the city had toiled under jihadist occupation and the diverse Christian community, which had prospered since the times of Jesus Christ, was persecuted and often attacked with mortars. Upon liberation, Aleppo’s Christians, the largest grouping in all of Syria, were finally able to observe Christmas and other Christian traditions once more. This year however, with nearly the whole of Syria cleared of terrorism and the illegal occupation of Syrian territories by US troops set to end, Christmas has truly returned to what once was Syria’s economic capital in full swing. Fireworks illuminate the skyline, Santa Clauses are everywhere and Christmas trees are lit up citywide. It’s like Aleppo is totally alive again after rising up from the wreckage. Halab, as the city is called in Arabic, is one of the oldest most continuously inhabited cities on Earth, with historians noting it has had residents for 8,000-13,000 years. It has always been considered one of the centers of civilization. And right in the heart of it are Syria’s Christians. After half a decade of terror at the hands of “moderate rebels” armed and financed by NATO and Saudi Arabia, Syrian Christians not only have freedom but peace. The spirit of Christmas has prevailed over the terror of extremism. Indeed, it doesn’t get merrier than that.
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